Lawmakers rally against high price diabetes meds

Congressman Joe Morelle is criticizing the what he calls price gouging of prescription medications for treating diabetes.

A recent report commissioned by the congressman determined prices for such medications are much higher in the U.S. that in other countries.

The report found the 50 most-used medications in the 25th Congressional District cost Medicare and beneficiaries more than $24 million in 2016, and that the cost of one widely-used insulin would be 52 percent lower in Canada, 70 percent lower in the United Kingdom and 74 percent lower in Australia.

A one-month supply in the 25th District, the report found, would be 21 times the cost of what would be seen in Australia.